The SK 105 internally relies on an in-house Steyr 7FA 6-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, turbocharged, diesel-fueled engine of 320 horsepower. This provides the chassis with a top road speed of 43 miles per hour on ideal surfaces and an operation range of up to 310 miles. The suspension system is of a tried and true torsion bar design. Altogether, the SK 105 provides excellent agility and climbing ratios, making suitable for combat in extremely rugged terrain. The tank can ford up to 1 meter of open water, traverse a 0.8 meter obstacle and cross a 2.41 meter wide gap. Gradients of up to 75% can be tackled.
The SK 105/A1 production models were ultimately upgraded to the new SK 105/A2 standard to which the fire control system (FCS) was replaced and a fully-automatic reloading system implemented for the main gun. The main gun was now stabilized for firing "on the move". The SK 105/A3 mark was a proposed prototype form featuring an all-new oscillating turret design as well as increased armor. This vehicle would have fielded the American M68 105mm main gun which allowed for firing of NATO-standard projectiles. The chassis went on to serve in three distinct though related production forms as the "Greif" ARV (Armored Recovery Vehicle with hydraulic crane, winch and dozer blade), the "Pionier" CEV (Combat Engineering Vehicle) and the SK-105 "Fahrschulpanzer", a turretless trainer derivative.
Since its inception, the SK 105 has gone on to see operational service with the forces of Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Morocco and Tunisia in limited numbers. Austria, by far, made up the largest collection of operational SK 105s numbering some 286 examples in service at peak. In all, some 716 SK 105 tanks went on to be produced. The Austrian Army has since given up use of the SK 105 series.
The "Curraisser" name is from the mounted, armored and armed cavalry soldiers featured throughout Europe beginning in the late 15th Century.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.